Ramos: We Don't Score Enough

[Trim]

Juande Ramos has insisted that Tottenham need to score more goals if they wish to be a Premier League force.

With strikers Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov scoring 44 goals between them – 22 each – so far this season, one might think that scoring was the least of Tottenham’s problems, especially given their penchant for leaky defending.

But Ramos insists that the entire Tottenham team needs to be more ruthless in front of goal if they want to truly push for Champions League football next season.

"Football is all about converting chances and we were in front of goal on a number of occasions with some real opportunities, and it was just about not being decisive enough in that final finish," he said, following Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Blackburn last week.

"It was a case of not being more assertive in the final shot."

Spurs host Middlesbrough this weekend in a lame-duck mid-table fixture, with both sides merely attempting to secure a top-half finish.

But midfielder Jermaine Jenas – who set up Berbatov’s goal in their draw at Ewood Park – insists that their current position will not prevent Keane and Berbatov from giving their all to try and score as many times as possible, as they battle with each other for the club’s top-scorer award.

"It's great to have that competition between them," said Jenas. "I'm sure they both want to finish top scorer."

Middlesbrough will be full confidence following their impressive 2-2 draw with Manchester United last week, and a win at White Hart Lane would leave them just two points behind Spurs.

Goal.com - Tottenham - Ramos: We Don't Score Enough

[Mighty T.A.L.]

What Spurs need is more clean sheets. What a stupid thing to say. Who do Ramos think he is?

[Dellas]

I think he means in the games that they have drawn that they don't take all their chances.

I mean they have scored loads, i mean having 2 strikers each with 22 goals isn't a bad thing and of course others have contributed to their goals scored. They score loads but it seems like they don't because they conceed so many.

Tottenham so far have scored 62 goals and conceeded 56. They are third in the table for goals scored after Man Utd and Arsenal respectively. So he must be meaning about the draws and not taking their chances.

[bandini]

you both have a point. clean sheets are definitely something we haven't had many of and it's a problem. I do agree about the draws though. I think that they rely on Berbs and Keane to do the scoring and if other guys were more dangerous in front of goal then we'd keep the other teams more honest.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

You must expect there will be matches you don't take your chances and on these days you need a clean sheet to take points. Spurs have played some draws but how many draws have ended 0-0? What Spurs must improve is their defending.